Technical Visits & Tours

Dublin allows the opportunity for a number of exciting technical visits and active tours. As ever these are on a first come first served basis, with priority being given to AET members. To register your interest, please do so via the booking form or email sabrina.winter@aetransport.org

Running Tours

Start your day with a clear mind, #ETCercise lead by Oliver Charlesworth ocharlesworth@citilabs.com and Gavin Jackman gavin.jackman@aimsun.com

Put the sport in Transport

2017 saw the first ETC running tour in Barcelona and word spread in 2018 to get a great turn out in Dublin. In 2019 you can expect to run past some of Dublin’s most popular sites such as: Trinity College, Dublin Castle, St. Patricks Cathedral, GPO building, Guinness Storehouse (on the slightly longer run) and numerous city parks and bridges over the River Liffey. We start a little early to make sure there's plenty of time for showers before the conference begins at 9am. 

Depending on demand we will cater for different paces and distances:

• Thursday 10th October, 06:45am: This is a gentle jog so we can all run together around a city-center ~6 km route whilst casually chatting with ETC colleagues  (~45 mins). When we return to the meeting point those that want to go an extra 4.5 km (~11 km in total) will be taken up to the Guinness Storehouse and back (+30 mins). Everyone should meet near the Castle 0645, outside Palace Street Gate at Chez Max.
• Friday 11th October, 06:45am: a repeat of Thursday's route.
• Friday 11th October, 06:30am: For those that want to run slightly (but not a lot) faster and further! This is a run of around 10-14 km up to and around Phoenix Park where we are likely to see deer and hear the dawn chorus of Dublin Zoo (~1h15 - 1h45). Meet at the Castle 0630, outside Palace Street Gate at Chez Max. Please bring head torches. 

Routes are indicative and subject to change.

Bicycle Tours

• Facilitated by Dublin City Council and the Lazy Bike Company
• Places strictly limited to 25 places per session
• Wednesday 9th October 1800 – 1900
• Thursday 10th October 1800 – 1900

Luas Red Cow Depot

Transport Infrastructure Ireland and Transdev Ireland, the operator of the Luas, Dublin's Light Rail system are delighted to be hosting a visit to their Red Cow Depot facility. The visit will include short tours of the Central Control Room and the working Depot floor.

• 2 x groups of 15
• Thursday 10th October 0915
• 0825 at the latest all delegates to board tram from Luas stop Red Line Outbound  to the Red Cow Depot facility to meet  group leader Michelle Price.

• You will need to make your own way to the Red Cow Depot for 9.10am sharp to meet Michelle Price (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) who will lead the tour.

• The nearest Luas stop to Dublin Castle is Four Points (see map below). The journey will take at least 30 minutes so please ensure you are on the Luas by 8.25am at the latest to ensure you are ready for the start of the tour.

Irish Rail (CTC)

 This technical visit is presented by Irish Rail, at Connolly Station.

• 2 x groups of 15
• Thursday 10th October 1600
• Leaving the Printworks at 1500, coach travel will be arranged.

Go-Ahead Ireland New Depot Tour

For session 10 on Friday afternoon, the Local Public Transport stream features a visit to the depot of Go-Ahead Ireland, a newly-established bus operator in Dublin.  Go-Ahead Ireland was established in response to the contracting-out of bus services in Dublin, and is a fascinating example of an operator being set up from cold.  The company is a subsidiary of the British Go-Ahead Group. The visit will include a presentation from Ed Wills, the Managing Director, and a tour of the newly-established depot, a conversion of an existing building. 

The tour will depart from Dublin Castle (Printworks Registration desk) at 13:15, with participants taking a packed lunch (not because it's a long way but because we're quite tight for time). Numbers are limited to 24.

• Friday 11th October 

Special Pre-Conference Visit 8th October, Belfast Glider

Belfast Glider is a high-quality bus rapid transit system using 18m articulated vehicles on a mixture of dedicated bus lanes and ordinary roads. There's a good description of the scheme here:

https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/belfast-rapid-transit-glider-introduction

The cost is £35+VAT to include a light lunch and coach travel. Please email Sabrina.Winter@aetransport.org

All delegates must be pre-registered by Sunday 5th October.